Liverpool beat Bournemouth in dramatic fashion on the opening day of the Premier League season after honouring Diogo Jota.
The Reds were playing competitively at Anfield for the first time since Jota’s tragic death in July, kicking off the new season.
And the late Portuguese was impeccably honoured during an emotional evening against the Cherries. There was not a dry eye in the house.
After that, it was the Hugo Ekitike show. Liverpool‘s new signing turned in a terrific display on his Premier League debut to register a goal and an assist.
Ekitike’s performance led to further questions of whether Liverpool really need to sign top target Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.
Liverpool have been pushing to sign Isak who has seemingly gone on strike at Newcastle. And as the standoff continues between the Reds, the Magpies and Isak, journalist David Ornstein delivered an update from Anfield.
Alexander Isak smiles as he arrives at St James Park ahead of Newcastle United's Premier League match against Chelsea.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
All to play for in Alexander Isak chase
Isak’s will-he-won’t-he move to Liverpool has dominated headlines since the middle of July.
Ornstein has been at the front of all of it, and speaking from the touchline at Anfield before Friday’s game, the reporter delivered the lay of the land.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
“We haven’t heard the end of it yet,” Ornstein told NBC Sports. “The news I broke in the week was that Alexander Isak has no intention to play for Newcastle United again. That’s his perspective. In his mind, that chapter is over and even if a deal is not done to secure his departure before the transfer window closes, his mind is not in a place to be reintegrated into Eddie Howe’s squad. That is a pretty drastic development in all of this.
“What we know is that Newcastle have no intention of selling him and they’ve been clear and consistent in that for a long time. However, they are looking for replacements in the event of him leaving.”
READ MORE: Liverpool fans deliver verdict on Milos Kerkez’s display against Bournemouth and they’re not happy
“Liverpool’s interest is ongoing,” adds the journalist. “And they’d be ready to bid should they receive encouragement should Newcastle get their replacements.
“In his [Isak’s] mind, he let Newcastle know about his intentions as long as a year ago when they told him there would be no new contract. People in Newcastle I talk to deny that.
“Isak hasn’t played a pre-season friendly, he’s not going to be playing for Newcastle at Aston Villa tomorrow. We’ll have to wait and see if something gives on this, maybe after the teams play there could be resolution, after they play each other on the 25th. I can’t say which way it’s going to go, it feels in the balance, but he certainly wants that move to Liverpool.”
Hugo Ekitike shows Liverpool are in good hands
Although Isak has seemingly always been the dream target for Liverpool this summer, Ekitike has perhaps taken that personally.
The Frenchman was excellent in the Community Shield last weekend and was bang at it again on Friday night.
His goal was beautifully taken, and Ekitike then claimed an assist to boot with a lay-off for Cody Gakpo.
However, although the 23-year-old was indeed terrific again for the Reds, the lack of depth in the Liverpool squad was on full display during a difficult evening.
Federico Chiesa saved it late for the Reds, but however good their options have come up on matchday one, there is a clear need for Isak still to join.